In the inner region near a black hole, how fast do the closest orbiting particles move relative to light speed?

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Study for the NOVA Black Hole Apocalypse Astronomy Test. Explore astronomy with our rich content. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions to enhance your knowledge. Prepare effectively and uncover the mysteries of black holes. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

In the inner region near a black hole, how fast do the closest orbiting particles move relative to light speed?

Explanation:
In strong gravity, orbital motion can be a significant fraction of light speed. For a non-rotating black hole, the innermost stable circular orbit sits at a radius where the required orbital speed, as measured by a local stationary observer, is about half the speed of light. That’s why the closest orbiting matter is commonly described as moving at roughly 0.5 c. It’s fast, but still well below light speed, because approaching c would demand infinite energy and unstable orbits would occur even closer in. So the best answer is that the closest orbiting particles move at about half the speed of light. Near the horizon you’d see even stronger relativistic effects, but locally the speed remains around 0.5 c for these near-edge orbits.

In strong gravity, orbital motion can be a significant fraction of light speed. For a non-rotating black hole, the innermost stable circular orbit sits at a radius where the required orbital speed, as measured by a local stationary observer, is about half the speed of light. That’s why the closest orbiting matter is commonly described as moving at roughly 0.5 c. It’s fast, but still well below light speed, because approaching c would demand infinite energy and unstable orbits would occur even closer in. So the best answer is that the closest orbiting particles move at about half the speed of light. Near the horizon you’d see even stronger relativistic effects, but locally the speed remains around 0.5 c for these near-edge orbits.

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